Help me understand Pre-Amps!

[futurepet]

So, I want to record music on my computer. I have a new, nice and poweful thinkpad, but without a fancy soundcard. I want to be able to get profesional sounding recordings into my laptop -- a keyboard, vocals, mic´d acoustic guitar, mic´d electric guitar (mic'ing the amp, not direct in).

I´ve been reading about preamps and other audio input devices and i´m lost!!!

what do i need? what specifically is a preamp for? what is the diff. between preamps and these other audio input things? are m-audio products the best and which one do i need? will i be ok with the generic soundcard in my thinkpad or does that not matter if i have a preamp/audio input device? please help!

One other thing I don´t understand is these preamps that offer direct-in recording for electric guitars. Wouldn´t any guitarist argue that their amp is a huge part of their sound, and bypassing the amp will result in, well, crap?

thanks!!

 

[fraserhutch]

So, I want to record music on my computer. I have a new, nice and poweful thinkpad, but without a fancy soundcard. I want to be able to get profesional sounding recordings into my laptop -- a keyboard, vocals, mic´d acoustic guitar, mic´d electric guitar (mic'ing the amp, not direct in).

"professional" is a slippery slope. That's going to toake money, time, and experience. This is not an easy slam dunk.

If I were you, I'd shoot for "decent" to start.

I´ve been reading about preamps and other audio input devices and i´m lost!!!

what do i need? what specifically is a preamp for? what is the diff. between preamps and these other audio input things? are m-audio products the best and which one do i need? will i be ok with the generic soundcard in my thinkpad or does that not matter if i have a preamp/audio input device? please help!

A preamp raises a signal from mis level to line level.

If you want decent + sound, you will need a decent preamp, and a decent soundcard. I am not about to enter the argument as to what those are, but I wil postulate that no built in sound card qualifies.

One other thing I don´t understand is these preamps that offer direct-in recording for electric guitars. Wouldn´t any guitarist argue that their amp is a huge part of their sound, and bypassing the amp will result in, well, crap?

thanks!!

Not crap, just different - it's a trade-off. If you want the sound of your amp, you have to mic it, and thus send it to a pre.

Another approach is to send to signal in to a direct-in an a pre, and simulate the amp with plugins, and/or reamp at a later date. This way, you get the good take ONCE, and can play around with the tone non-destructively at a later time.

 

[futurepet]

"If you want decent + sound, you will need a decent preamp, and a decent soundcard. I am not about to enter the argument as to what those are, but I wil postulate that no built in sound card qualifies.

Are there things available that are both external soundcards and preamps? e.g. so i could buy just one item instead of two? examples?

thanks again....

 

[JeffLancaster]

Are there things available that are both external soundcards and preamps? e.g. so i could buy just one item instead of two? examples?

thanks again....

Here's an example of an inexpensive audio interface (soundcard)/preamp combination:

http://www.zzounds.com/a--2676837/item--MDOMOBILEPRE

It features 2 built-in microphone preamps and usb connectivity for a laptop.

 

[RAK]

One other thing I don´t understand is these preamps that offer direct-in recording for electric guitars. Wouldn´t any guitarist argue that their amp is a huge part of their sound, and bypassing the amp will result in, well, crap?
thanks!!

Often times standard guitar recording technique involves micing the amp, and getting a clean sound straight from the guitar. While a DI usually acomplishes this, you could also plug your guitar straight into the interface's instrument input, and then bus that signal to an amp (if the amp had a line-in)

Also, there are so many software amp modelers out there now, that plugging in a guitar direct, doesn't necessarily mean it's going to come out that way on the back end. So you can still get an "amp" sound without actually having an amp

(please note: not making any judements or opinions on software amps versus real amps, because obviously that discussion could take on a life of its own. Just pointing out they're out there)

And I agree with Fraserhutch, not crap-just different. When it comes to deciding on the sound you want, there's really no absolute right or wrong.

Just read the end of Fraserhutch's post and realized he already said what I just said, but decided to leave mine anyway, but hopefully this will reinforce the idea, and not just be redundant.